Apparatus for guiding prepunched plates through a roll-forming machine

ABSTRACT

A guide mechanism for guiding prepunched plates through a rollforming machine is provided including a support and guide track means fixed relative to the guide mechanism and a cantilever plate having wheels which roll along the guide track means, the said cantilever plate including a gravity operated latch dog which engages in a slot in a guide bar. The guide bar, in turn, is positively positioned relative to the prepunched plate by the insertion of pins through some of the perforated holes in the plate and corresponding holes in the guide bar. The cantilever plate disengages from the guide bar upon the perforated plate reaching the end of the guide mechanism through the functioning of a cam plate which lifts a latch nose from the slot in the guide bar, thus permitting the perforated plate and attached guide bar to continue through the rolls of the roll-forming machine. The guide bar provides the additional function of centering the perforated plate relative to the rollers while the prepunched plate is in the roller forming area so that an extremely close tolerance can be reached during the rolling operation and the perforated holes in the prepunched plate maintained within + OR - 0.030 inches tolerance in the finally formed structural shape.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James L. De Rupa Reading, Pa. [21]Appl. No. 868,144 [22] Filed Oct. 21, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 21, 1971[73] Assignee Dana Corporation Toledo, Ohio [54] APPARATUS FOR GUIDINGPREPUNCHED PLATES THROUGH A ROLL-FORMING MACHINE 7 Claims, 5 DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S.Cl 72/181, 72/250 [51] 1nt.Cl B211! 5/08 [50] Field of Search72/181, 133, 176, 178, 182, 250, 251, 307

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,370,448 2/1968 Ruple72/176 3,409,071 11/1968 Ci0chetto.... 164/274 2,294,324 8/1942 Wilkinset al. 72/178 X 2,471,490 5/1949 Mercer 72/178 3,349,591 10/1967Thomas... 72/251 X 147,836 2/1874 Hall 72/250 1,736,331 11/1929 Townsend72/181 1,807,847 6/1931 Kellogg 72/131 Atrorneyswalter E. Pavlick,Harold D. Shall, Richardson B.

Farley and John F. Teigland ABSTRACT: A guide mechanism for guidingprepunched plates through a roll-forming machine is provided including asupport and guide track means fixed relative to the guide mechanism anda cantilever plate having wheels which roll along the guide track means,the said cantilever plate including a gravity operated latch dog whichengages in a slot in a guide bar. The guide bar, in turn, is positivelypositioned relative to the prepunched plate by the insertion of pinsthrough some of the perforated holes in the plate and correspondingholes in the guide bar. The cantilever plate disengages from the guidebar upon the perforated plate reaching the end of the guide mechanismthrough the functioning of a cam plate which lifts a latch nose from theslot in the guide bar, thus permitting the perforated plate and attachedguide bar to con tinue through the rolls of the roll-forming machine.The guide bar provides the additional function of centering theperforated plate relative to the rollers while the prepunched plate isin the roller forming area so that an extremely close tolerance can bereached during the rolling operation and the perforated holes in theprepunched plate maintained within i 0.030 inches tolerance in thefinally formed structural shape.

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INVENTOR. JAMES L. DE RUPA ATTORNEY PATEmanneeemn 3628361 SHEEI 2 [IF 3INVENTOR. JAMES L. DE RUPA I u .BY

ATTORNEY PATENTED 05021 um 3,628,361

SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTUR. JAMES L. DE RUPA BY M60 01? ATTORNEY APPARATUSFOR GUIDING PREPUNCHED PLATES THROUGH A ROLL-FORMING MACHINEl-leretofore, the usual method of guiding sheets through rollformingequipment to form channellike members or tubular members when the said.sheets were preperforated has not been satisfactory since tolerances onthe hole location in the finally formed structural shape would not bemaintained within sufficient tolerance so that the formed channel ortubular member could not be easily used successfully in assemblyoperations. Such prior manufacturing apparatus generally included anumber of sets of rollers, with each set of rollers providing slightlymore bending to eventually form the flat steel blank into a finaldesired configuration. However, if holes were prepunehed in this blank,the structural forming provided by the roll-forming machine did notlocate and center the steel blank sufficiently so as to maintainsufficient tolerance levels on the preperforated holes when the steelblank was in its finally formed shape. Tolerances obtained by this oldmethod of roll forming usually resulted in hole tolerances that werebetween 10.050 and 0.070 inches and such tolerances severely complicatedthe assembly problems encountered when utilizing such a shaped blank inan assembly operation having as its object a finally manufactured roductthat had to be constructed and assembled on the manufacturing floor.Accordingly, it would be very advantageous to provide a roll-forming andguidance arrangement for the forming of structural shapes wherein thehole tolerances of prepunehed holes could be maintained much moreclosely than heretofore experienced.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a guidingmechanism for a preperforated steel blank to insure that tolerances ofthe formed holes is maintained in the roll-forming operation. i

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a centeringmechanism that is carried along with the plate blank being formed andwhich interacts with the rollers of the rollforming machinery to tend tocenter and locate the blank as it goes through the forming operation.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a mounting andguiding arrangement for the end of the preperforated plate blank so thatis it guidingly fed into the roller arrangement with the said guidingarrangement releasing as the plate blank passes over the mounting andguide arrangement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a roller and guidingarrangement which accurately and expeditiously forms preperforated plateblanks into configured shapes while maintaining extremely closetolerances on the final product including the location of the prepunehedholes.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a guide mechanism isdisposed immediately in front of a roll-forming machine. This guidemechanism includes a support and guide track mounted on a conveyor-typeframe so as to guide a wheeled cantilever plate with the wheels runningin grooves of the supporting guide track to permit horizontal slidingmovement of the cantilever plate. A gravity latch dog pivotally mountedon the cantilever plate engages in a slot in a guide bar which, in turn,is mounted on the preperforated steel blank by the use of pin means.Thus, the guide bar is positively located relative to the support andguide track. A roller arm on the gravity latch dog traverses along thetop of the support and guide track until near its termination where thelatch dog strikes a cam plate raising the roller arm and also liftingthe roller latch dog from its engagement with the slot in the guide bar.This permits the preperforated steel blank and the guide bar to continueinto the rolleraforming machinery. The cantilever guide plate may thenbe returned to its starting position manually.

The roll-forming machinery is substantially conventional save that theforming rollers are sized to include provisions for the guide bar sothat the guide bar serves as a locating element for the preperforatedsteel blank as it moves along through the roll-forming machinery. Such aguide bar is normally used on each end of the preperforated steel blankif the blank has perforations throughout its length. In the event thatonly one end of the preperforated steel blank contains holes then aguide bar is only used on this end and this end is the end which isfirst passed into the roll-forming machine.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims and may be understood more specificallyby reference to the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration,show a preferred embodiment of the invention and what :is considered tobe the best mode for applying the above principles.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the guiding mechanism;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the roll-forming machinery:

FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view of one set of engaging rolls andpreperforated steel blank taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1B,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the guide bars and,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one type of positioning pin which may beutilized to connect the guide bar to the preperforated steel blank.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it can be seen in FIGS.1A and 18, that a guide and support mechanism 10 and roll-formingmachine 12 are floor mounted and disposed in aligned relationship so asto provide for the passage of the material to be formed between them. Apreperforated steel blank M is illustrated extending between the guidemechanism 10 and the roll-forming machine 12 with the preperforatedsteel blank M thereby undergoing forming so as to be converted into achannel or similar shape.

The guide and support mechanism 10 comprises a feed or roller conveyor16 and a guide mechanism 18 physically attached to the feed or rollerconveyor 16 by welding or the like (not shown). The feed conveyor 16includes a frame 20 and a series of horizontally disposed roller 2.2which are piloted for easy turning between upright members 19 of theframe 20 so as to permit the preperforated steel blank 14 to move withlinear motion along the length of the frame 20 and thereby the feedconveyor 16 as the preperforated steel blank 14 is fed into theroll-forming machinery 12. Thus, the preperforated steel blank M is freeto slide easily along the feed conveyor 16 towards the roll-formingmachine through the aegis of the rollers 22.

The guide mechanism 18 which, as set out previously, is fixedly attachedto the feed conveyor 16 includes a support and guide track member 24formed from a piece of solid steel stock which is mounted so as toextend along the length of feed conveyor 16. The support and guide trackmember has a longitudinal slot 26 which opensover and inwardly relativeto the rollers 22 and extends horizontally and linearly along the entirelength of the support and guide track member 24. A vertical cross slot28 is disposed inwardly of the periphery of the support and guide trackmember, with this slot disposed perpendicular to and intersecting thelongitudinal slot 26 and also extending linearly for the full length ofthe support and guide track member 24 to thereby form a pair of slots26, 28 cruciform in cross section.

Extending into the longitudinal slot 26 is a cantilever plate 30 oftruncated triangular shape, the narrow portion of the triangular shape(apex) extending inwardly relative to the frame 20 towards the rollersso as to be disposed over the preperforated steel blank 14. Thecantilever plate 30 carries, on its outward wide end, rollers 32, 32which are disposed in right angular relationship to the transversehorizontal extent of cantilever plate 30 so that the rollers 32, 32 canbe mounted in the vertical slot 28 to roll therealong, with a portion ofthe cantilever plate 30 extending into the longitudinal slot 26 so as toplace these rollers in this position. The cantilever plate 30 is therebypositively guided'in longitudinal movement along the guide mechanism 18,the vertical slot 28 providing just sufiicient room for the rollers 32,32 to operate so that the cantilever plate 30 moves in a substantiallyparallel manner relative to the roll-forming machinery 12 and the linearextent of the frame 20.

A pivot boss 34 is fixedly mounted on the upper side of cantilever plate30 with a bore 36 extending through the pivot boss 34 and disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal slot 26 so as to receivea pivot arm 38 of a latch dog assembly 40. A latch 42 is fixedlyattached to the inward end of pivot arm 38 to pivot therewith andincludes a downwardly depending pawl 44 which, in its locking position,engages in an aperture 46 extending through the thickness of thecantilever plate 30. The opposite end of the latch dog assembly 40remote from the depending pawl 44 includes a longitudinally extendingroller arm 48 disposed parallel to slot 28. This roller arm isintegrally fastened-to the pivot arm 38 of the latch dog assembly so asto pivot with it. A pair of rollers 50 and 52 are mounted on oppositeends of the roller arm 48 so that, as the cantilever plate 30 moveshorizontally longitudinally along the feed conveyor 16 and guidemechanism 18, the rollers 50 and 52 provide a substantially frictionfree movement of the roller arm 48 along a top side 54 of the guidemechanism 18.

Near the end of the guide mechanism 18, adjacent to the roll-formingmachinery 12, a cam plate 56 is mounted on a front inset face 57 of thesupport and guide track member 24 so as to extend upwardly and so as tobe disposed in the movement of the path of the roller arm 48. it shouldbe clear from the foregoing description that, as the cantilever plate 30reaches the cam 56, the roller arm 48 will be upset by the inclinedplane of the cam 56 so that it will rotate counterclockwise moving thelatch 42 in a similar manner counterclockwise thereby removing the pawl44 from the aperture 46 in cantilever plate 30. By this arrangement, theguide mechanism 18 is released from the steel blank 14 adjacent to theroll-forming machinery l2.

In order to connect the preperforated steel blank 14 to the cantileverplate 30 so that the prepunched steel blank will be guided by the saidcantilever plate, a guide bar 58 (FIGS. 1 and 3) having a substantiallyextended length is physically attached between them. The guide bar 58extends substantially parallel to the linear extent of the preperforatedsteel blank 14 and includes a series of longitudinally and aligned slots60, 60, 60 that extend linearly along the length of the guide bar 58intermediate the width of the guide bar. The pawl 44 of the latch dogassembly 40 extends into one of these slots when the latch dog assembly40 is in locking position so that the guide bar 58 moves with thecantilever plate 30 horizontally over the rollers 32. A pair of bores62, 62 (FIG. 3) are formed in opposite ends of the guide bar 58'intermediate its width and outwardly of the slots 60. These bores areprovided for the reception of positioning pins 64, 64 which are insertedtherein and also extend into-and mate withperforated holes 66, 66 whichhave been preformed in prepunched steel blank 14.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the positioning pins 64, 64 each comprise twoaxially offset sections 68 and 70, with the section 68 being thatportion of positioning pin 64 which is inserted in the bore 62 and withthe section 70 being that portion which is inserted in the preformedhole 66. This axially offset arrangement is provided since thepreperforated holes 66, 66 are not centered relative to the steel blank14 so that, during forming, if the pin 64 was not offset, the finallyformed channel member would have the legs of the channel of unequallength. However, if the preperforated holes 66, 66 are centered relativeto the formed channel, the use of an offset pin is not required. Apin-retaining screw 65 securely holds each of the pins 64 in the guidebar 58.

As can be seenjn FIG. 1B, guide bar 58 and preperforated steel blank l4are moved through a series of roller stands 74,

76, 78, 80 and 82, with each series of rollers of its respective rollerstand providing an increasing upward bend to the legs 84 and 86 of thefinished channel form 72. As is conventional,

each of the roller stands 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82 comprise a double seriesof opposed forming rollers with each series of forming rollers slightlyspaced from its opposed alternate pair of rollers. The preperforatedsteel blank passes between, for example, (FIG. 2) a pair of upperrollers 88 and 90, that are fixed on a shaft 92 to rotate therewith anda pair of lower rolleis 94 and 96 that are fixed to and rotatable with ashaft 98, with the previously mentioned opposing rollers88, and 94, 96giving an increasing upturned disposition to the legs 84 and 86 than thedisposition given to these legs by the immediately preceding rollerstand 76.

Disposed on shaft 92 intermediate the upper rollers 88 and 90 is aholddown ring 100, this ring being fixed to the shaft 92 so as to berotatable with it. The function of holddown ring 100 is that ofproviding a pressure on the top of the guide bar 58 so as to tend tomaintain that portion of the finally formed channel 72 between the legs80 and 78 in a fiat condition. It should be clear from the foregoingdescription that the guide bar 58 serves a double function, that is, asthe preperforated steel blank passes over and along the guide means 10,the guide bar 58 serves as an attaching means for the end of thepreperforated steel blank 14 which is not yet undergoing shapingoperations in the roller stands 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82. As the same time,after release of one of guide bars 58 from the cantilever plate 30 (bythe latch dog assembly 40), the guide bar 58 serves both as a centeringand flattening means to insure that proper bending occurs to provide thefinal shape of channel 72. i

As was set out at the very beginning of the description of theinvention, a single guide bar 58 may be utilized if their preperforatedsteel blank 14 is perforated only on one end and, in such case, theguide bar 58 is mounted so that it and the end of the preperforatedsteel blank 14 containing the preperforated holes is first fed throughthe guide and support mechanism 10 and roller stands 74, 76, 78, 80 and82. ln the event that the preperforated steel blank 14 contains holesthroughout its length then a pair of guide bars 58 are utilized one oneach end of the preperforated steel blank 14, but in this case only asingle cantilever plate 30 and its attached elements are utilized andthis plate is disposed on the end of steel blank 14 that is most remotefrom roll-forming machinery 12. This arrangement provides slightlybetter guiding for the preperforated steel blank due to double centeringafforded by two guide bars 58 and therefore closer tolerances. However,when only a single guide bar 58 is utilized the tolerances for theprepunched holes are still maintained within 0.030 of an inch in thefinished form shape.

A single embodiment of this invention has been shown and described butit should be readily apparent that many changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of this invention and without theexercise of inventive skill. For example, the guide mechanism androll-forming arrangement might be utilized to provide close holetolerances on a rectangular or square finally formed tubular memberwhich was preperforated. The same could also be used. to form rightangle members when preperforation of holes was utilized in such members.in both of these cases, the objects of the invention would be fulfilledin the same or a substantially similar manner is obtained in theapparatus described which is utilized in the forming of a channel shape.

I claim:

1. A guide mechanism and roll-forming assembly for the forming of steelplate blanks comprising; (a) roll-formingv machinery disposed in tandemwith a roller conveyor, (b) said roller conveyor including a trackmeans, (cc) said track means formed by a elongated member having a pairof slots of cmciform cross section extending the length of the elongatedmember, (d) carriage means having guiding rollers riding in the verticalportion of said cruciform cross section slot, (e) said carriage meanscarrying a pivotally mounted arm, (f) said pivotally mounted armincluding an actuating strut at its one end and a latched dog at itsother end, (g) said actuating strut being engageable with a'cam meanswhen said carriage is at one extreme of its travel to thereby upset saidactuating strut and pivotally move said pivotal arm and latch dog out oflatching position, (h) said latch dog when in latching position latchingsaid carriage to means attached to said steel plate blank.

2. The combination set out in claim 11. wherein; (a) a guide bar formsthe means attached to said steel plate blank and (b) said latch doglockingly engages with said guide bar and said carriage.

3. The combination set out in claim 2 wherein; (a) said guide barincludes longitudinally extending slots, (b) said carriage includesholes extending therethrough and (c) said latch dog in latching positionengages in at least one of said slots and one of said holes.

4. The combination set out in claim 3 wherein; (a) said guide barincludes a bore extending therethrough, (b) said steel plate blankincludes perforations and, (c) pin means are inserted in said bore andone of said perforation to couple said guide bar and said steel plateblank.

5. The combination set out in claim 4 wherein; (a) said guide bar moveswith said steel plate blank into said roll-forming machinery forproviding a centering and pressing means for said steel blank duringshaping of said steel plate blank.

6. The combination set out in claim 5 wherein said pin means is held insaid guide bar by screw retaining means.

7. The combination set out in claim 6 wherein; (a) said actuating strutincludes rollers mounted on its ends, (b) said rolleis move along a topsurface of said guide track during guiding movement of said steel plateblank.

t l m nn

1. A guide mechanism and roll-forming assembly for the forming of steelplate blanks comprising; (a) roll-forming machinery disposed in tandemwith a roller conveyor, (b) said roller conveyor including a trackmeans, (cc) said track means formed by a elongated member having a pairof slots of cruciform cross section extending the length of theelongated member, (d) carriage means having guiding rollers riding inthe vertical portion of said cruciform cross section slot, (e) saidcarriage means carrying a pivotally mounted arm, (f) said pivotallymounted arm including an actuating strut at its one end and a latcheddog at its other end, (g) said actuating strut being engageable with acam means when said carriage is at one extreme of its travel to therebyupset said actuating strut and pivotally move said pivotal arm and latchdog out of latching position, (h) said latch dog when in latchingposition latching said carriage to means attached to said steel plateblank.
 2. The combination set out in claim
 1. wherein; (a) a guide barforms the means attached to said steel plate blank and (b) said latchdog lockingly engages with said guide bar and said carriage.
 3. Thecombination set out in claim 2 wherein; (a) said guide bar includeslongitudinally extending slots, (b) said carriage includes holesextending therethrough and (c) said latch dog in latching positionengages in at least one of said slots and one of said holes.
 4. Thecombination set out in claim 3 wherein; (a) said guide bar includes abore extending therethrough, (b) said steel plate blank includesperforations and, (c) pin means are inserted in said bore and one ofsaid perforation to couple said guide bar and said steel plate blank. 5.The combination set out in claim 4 wherein; (a) said guide bar moveswith said steel plate blank into said roll-forming machinery forproviding a centering and pressing means for said steel blank duringshaping of said steel plate blank.
 6. The combination set out in claim 5wherein said pin means is held in said guide bar by screw retainiNgmeans.
 7. The combination set out in claim 6 wherein; (a) said actuatingstrut includes rollers mounted on its ends, (b) said rollers move alonga top surface of said guide track during guiding movement of said steelplate blank.